The Newcastle Knights have named a 23-man squad for Saturday’s final trial match of the pre-season against the Canberra Raiders in Queanbeyan.
Four players will be making their first 13-a-side appearance for the club with Jamie Buhrer, Josh Starling and Ken Sio named to start, while 19-year-old Sam Stone sits on an extended bench.
Dane Gagai and Sione Mata’utia have been named to back-up from last Friday’s NRL All Stars match at McDonald Jones Stadium, and 21-year-old Dylan Phythian gets first crack at the fullback position.
Knights squad to face Raiders: 1 Dylan Phythian, 2 Ken Sio, 3 Dane Gagai, 4 Peter Mata’utia, 5 Nathan Ross, 6 Brock Lamb, 7 Trent Hodkinson, 8 Daniel Saifiti, 9 Danny Levi, 10 Josh Starling, 11 Sione Mata’utia, 12 Jamie Buhrer, 13 Mitch Barnett. Interchange: 14 Luke Yates, 15 Jack Stockwell, 16 Sam Stone, 17 Lachlan Fitzgibbon, 18 Brendan Elliot, 19 Will Pearsall, 22 Josh King, 23 Jacob Saifiti, 24 Chanel Mata’utia.